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Phytophthora Dieback in the GBMWHA

Start date:
01 Jan 2010
End date:
31 Dec 2015
Researchers:
Zoe-Joy Newby, Edward Liew
Project sponsors:
Challis Bequest Society (The University of Sydney), Donald Stammers (Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute)
Project partners:
David Guest and Richard Murphy (The University of Sydney), Daniel Ramp (University of Technology Sydney), NSW NPWS, BMWHI

Project aims

  • Predict the distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi in the GBMWHA
  • Sample the distribution of P. cinnamomi across the GBMWHA
  • Generate a model of the risk of Phytophthora Dieback across the GBMWHA
  • Assess if infection of plants with P. cinnamomi influence leaf reflectance

Project Summary

Information on the biology and ecology of P. cinnamomi is used to determine where it was likely to occur in the GBMHWA. The likelihood model is then tested by conducting a comprehensive soil sampling program to determine where P. cinnamomi occurred in the GBMWHA.

Using this new distribution information, new predictive models are constructed and combined with models of host plants known to be susceptible to disease that occurred in the GBMWHA to build a model of Phytophthora Dieback risk (i.e. disease risk = pathogen + host + conductive environment).

Whether infection of plants with P. cinnamomi leads to any changes in hyperspectral leaf reflectance is also tested with the aim of ultimately developing a non-destructive and potentially remote method of disease detection (e.g. via satellite imagery).

Find out more about Phytophthora Dieback including management in bushland, nurseries, gardens and during recreational activities.